Completion of the project was delayed six weeks because of recent heavy rains.

“Seems like every time we try to finish it, it rains,” design engineer Michael Dombrowski joked to city planner Stella Jones after the ceremony.

Before improvements were made, the area under Brooks Bridge was used primarily by vagrants. It had no lighting, the pier at the end of Alconese Avenue needed repairs and reaching the water was treacherous.

“It was very unsafe,” Jones said.

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Now, the shoreline has been reinforced, the pier is repaired and a new canoe launch has been installed. There are also new benches and picnic tables that look out over the water.

The project cost $200,000, of which $60,000 was covered by a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The rest was funded by the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, according to Jones.

Those who attended Thursday’s ribbon cutting seemed pleased by the appearance of the new park and its amenities.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for people to come down and enjoy the waterfront,” Jones said.